R.C. Sproul's Blog, page 602

A Primer on Inerrancy

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Bible Inerrancy (or the doctrine that "what the Bible says God says") has been under relentless attack since the Bible was written, but never more so than today. Something new, however, has been added in the modern onslaught. While the old liberal tradition of rejecting vast portions of the Bible still continues, the New Orthodoxy rejects all of it—as the Word of God, that is. John 3:16, no less than the Old Testament command to exterminate the Canaanites, is demoted from the status of Inspiration. The Bible, according to the new view, is the "instrument" (if God wills to make it such) of revelation and not itself revelation. We have tried briefly and non-technically to present a case for Bible Inerrancy that a serious-minded layman can follow and evaluate. Our critique of various false starts is first given to prepare the reader for what we feel is the correct view. While this is not in any way an exhaustive treatment of its divine subject, we trust that it is sound and faithful to the Scriptures of God.

Part I: Some Unsound Bases for Sound Doctrine

1. The Bible's Own Testimony as the Basis for Inerrancy

We could compose a book many times the size of this one consisting merely of fervent and eloquent evangelical appeals to the Bible itself as the proof of its own inspiration. Some three thousand times the Bible does make this claim for itself. "Thus saith the Lord" is a veritable refrain of the Scriptures. No book in the history of literature has made such frequent and moving assertions of its divine origin. Because of this remarkable characteristic of the Scriptures many have almost unconsciously concluded that the Bible is the Word of God.

This we believe and later shall attempt to prove is the right doctrine. The Bible is the Word of God; the inerrant revelation from above. It is the Word of God indeed, but not because it says so. Rather, it says so because it is.
How, we ask, would anyone prove the Bible is the Word of God simply because it so often says so? There could only be one basis for accepting Scripture for Scripture's sake: assertion for assertion's sake. But what an incredibly naive notion: A thing must be what it says it is. A man must be what he says he is. A book must be what it says it is.

Surely the mere setting forth of such an argument must be its sufficient refutation. An identification of claim with proof of claim is palpable error.

If it is not beating a horse that was born dead, let us point out the absurd consequences of the position we are here considering. If everything is to be believed simply because it says it is to be believed, then Hitler was a Messiah, the devil is an angel of light and antichrist is Christ. As Jesus
said: "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not" (Matthew 24:23).

But on the principle under scrutiny we would have to believe everyone who claims to be Christ—here and there, now and then. After all, according to the supposition we first believed in Jesus as the Christ because He said he was the Christ. We would have to be fair with other claimants whose claim is as loud or louder than his. If we would say "You are not the Christ because the Christ says you are not the Christ," anti-Christ could well say, "If you believed this other one because he said he was the Christ; why do you not, on the same principle, believe me when I say that I am the Christ; and if you will not believe that I am the Christ because this other Christ, whom you believe merely because he said what I also say, why not believe me when I say that he is not the Christ?"

There cannot be any answer to this criticism, for even to attempt to answer it is to admit it by retreating from the position being maintained (acceptance on mere assertion without any argument). If, for example, one says to antichrist, "I believe Jesus' claim because He has confirmed it in my experience," then you do not believe Jesus simply because He says He is the Christ. Rather, you believe Him because of something which He does in your heart; your ground has changed. You are no longer believing Him for His mere word's sake, but for His work's sake, specifically, His work in your heart.

Consequently, if you give no answer to the criticism of belief on the mere basis of assertion you are exposed to palpable naiveté and absurdity. But, if you do give an answer you flatly contradict yourself.

Some suppose that the Word of God is a special case to which ordinary rules of evidence do not apply. They admit essentially what has been written above, but take exception to its application to the matter in hand. It is true of men, they say, that their word may be challenged and must be proven to be true. But God's Word cannot be challenged, but must be immediately accepted as true and obeyed as right. To hesitate when God speaks is to be both foolish and impious, they say.

With all of this we cordially agree, but it misses the point under discussion. We are not here asking whether God should be obeyed when He speaks. We are simply asking whether a being must be acknowledged as God speaking merely because he so claims, or, more particularly, whether the Bible is to be regarded as the Word of God merely because it so claims. It cannot be said too emphatically that when God speaks He is to be instantly believed. Any question whatsoever at that moment is utterly and dangerously out of order. When God the Lord speaks, the devout and intelligent mind can only reply: "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." But like Samuel, who spoke those words, we must first know that the voice speaking is God's.

It would be just as foolish and impious to accept and obey any voice whatsoever which claimed to be divine, as it would be not to accept and obey the divine voice when it is shown to be such. To apply some reasonable test for ascertaining the voice of God and distinguishing it from the voice of men is not presumptuous as many charge, but, on the contrary, is as humble as it is necessary. Humble? Yes, humble because it is using the only means which our Maker has given us whereby we may distinguish between truth and error; God and men; His Word and theirs. To accept any voice which claimed His divine name would be arrogantly to disregard the means God Himself has graciously provided to prevent just such a mistake. The person who professed to believe without evidence would be despising the God who gave us minds, which must have evidence in order to provide a basis for reasonable belief. While God is, of course, infinitely above His creatures it does not follow that if and when He condescends to speak to them He will speak in a manner which is infinitely above them. Manifestly, if He speaks to men He must speak so that men can understand what He says. He must, as Calvin has said, "lisp." If parents must accommodate their language to their infants when they would be understood, surely God must indulge in baby talk when speaking to those infinitely below Him. If He chose to speak to us in a manner which is as infinitely above us, as His being is above ours, He would be, literally, infinitely over our heads. This would not only make comprehension by us infinitely impossible, but it would inevitably reflect on God's infinite intelligence, which would know no better than to attempt to communicate with finite creatures by going infinitely over their heads. It is equally evident that He will make it known that He is speaking—which means He will give some signs of His presence which the human mind can recognize.

In conclusion, then, the fact that the Bible claims its inspiration is not the basis for Inerrancy. If there is a sound basis for believing in Inerrancy, as we shall attempt to show in the second part, the self-testimony of Scripture will be a wonderful confirmation of it. Without the Bible's own claim it would not be impossible, but it would be more difficult, to believe that it is the Word of God. But with such self-attestation the truth of divine Inspiration is gloriously sealed.

To be continued...

Excerpted from Primitive Theology by John H. Gerstner.

Books, Teaching Series & Music Today for only $5

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Every Friday, find a variety of books, teaching series, and music on sale for only $5. Sale starts Fridays at 8 a.m. and ends 8 a.m. Saturday.

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Miss last Thursday's Ask R.C. Live session or want to watch it again? The video is now available streaming online. Watch below or catch both Ask R.C. Live events here.

The Gospel of Christ

Jeremiah Burroughs was one of the most popular preachers in London during his time there. The books he left behind following his death in 1646 remain a treasure and a great gift to the church. In this brief excerpt from Gospel Conversation he provides a wonderful summary of the gospel.

The gospel of Christ is the good tidings that God has revealed concerning Christ. As all mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, put under the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallen angels and has reserved them in the chains of eternal darkness, yet He has thought upon the children of men and has provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himself again.

The second Person in the Trinity takes man's nature upon Himself, and becomes the Head of a second covenant, standing charged with sin. He answers for it by suffering what the law and divine justice required, and by making satisfaction for keeping the law perfectly. This satisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as a sweet savor of rest for the souls that are given to Him.

And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering this atonement unto sinners for atonement, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins, but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall through Him be received into the number of those who shall have the image of God again to be renewed unto them, and that they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

That these souls and bodies shall be raised to that height of glory that such creatures are capable of, that they shall live forever enjoying the presence of God and Christ, in the fullness of all good, is the gospel of Christ. This is the sum of the gospel that is preached unto sinners.

Jeremiah Burroughs was one of the most popular preachers in London during his time there. He was one of the Independent members of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, and a Congregationalist. He spent 6 years at a small country church (St. Margaret's, Tivetshall), which is still standing and in use. During his time in London, he preached the mornings at the church in Stepney, outside of London, where William Greenhill preached in the afternoon. In the afternoons Burroughs preached at St. Giles Cripplegate.

The Symphony of Scripture

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When I was at Dallas Theological Seminary and struggling with the issue of dispensationalism, I ran across a little book by Mark Strom entitled The Symphony of Scripture. As a dispensationalist, my understanding of the Bible had been predicated upon the divisions in Scripture. In fact the basic motto of the dispensationalist is:"rightly dividing the Word of truth." Unfortunately, the unity of Scripture was lost in the dispensational understanding of this biblical phrase. The underlying themes and threads that tie all of the books of Scripture together were obscured and/or ignored. Discontinuity was emphasized at the expense of continuity, and the Bible was chopped into separated segments. Strom's book was one of the first books I read during this time that challenged me to look at the Bible in a different way - to look at it as a unified story that centered on Christ. It remains one of the most helpful introductions to the overall message of the books of the Bible that I have seen. The book, which was originally published by InterVarsity Press, has been out of print for almost a decade, but it has recently been re-published by P&R Publishing Company.

According to Strom, three main presuppositions shape the outline and structure of his book from beginning to end:

The Bible is essentially the record of God's dealings with His people over thousands of years and within several different cultures. A central story line and the constant interaction of themes such as sin, judgment and grace unify its diversity.
Jesus Christ is the key to understanding this unity in diversity.
The books of the Bible should be read with respect for their historical and cultural context and the literary conventions they reflect.

The main goal of the book is to demonstrate how the key people, events, institutions, and books of the Bible fit into the overall story. In other words, Strom provides a map of the forest with a guide to important landmarks along the trail. The book is an introduction that is as useful for those with no prior knowledge of Scripture as it is for those who have studied the Bible for many years.

Strom's book is divided into 22 relatively short chapters (usually about ten pages in length). Twelve chapters are devoted to the Old Testament, and ten are devoted to the New Testament. There are numerous helpful charts and illustrations throughout the text to help the reader grasp more complex topics. Each individual chapter begins with a brief summary of the main point to be communicated and ends with several discussion questions and exercises. The exercises introduce the reader to the actual text of the Scripture that has been discussed in the chapter. The book is structured in such a way as to be particularly well-suited for either individual or group Bible study.

Many new (as well as old) believers are often intimidated when they attempt to read the Bible. So many questions arise. What is the purpose of the numerous genealogies? What is the meaning of all these odd sacrifices? What is the relevance of these stories of ancient kings and prophets? What do these strange images in the prophetic books mean? Why does Jesus speak in obscure parables? Why is the Book of Revelation so mysterious and difficult to understand? Often these questions overwhelm the reader of Scripture. This is why an introduction such as this one can prove to be extremely helpful. No one attempts to go on a long journey in a foreign land without a map and a guide-book. Reading the Bible for the first time is very much like going on a long journey in a foreign land, and a good map and guide are just as helpful on this journey as on any other.

Strom does not merely introduce the books of the Bible, however. He also traces many of the central themes that run throughout the entire Bible. This is probably one of the most helpful features of the book. The central theme of Scripture is, of course, a Person - Jesus Christ, and Strom focuses on how the whole Bible points to Him. But Strom also shows how other themes such as grace, sacrifice, judgment, and covenant all weave throughout the books of the Bible and find their ultimate meaning in Christ. This aspect of the book is what proved to be most helpful for me as a recovering dispensationalist, and I suspect that it might be as helpful for others who are struggling through the problems raised by that system of interpretation. All in all, Strom does an outstanding job of showing how the different themes and motifs of the Bible come together to form a consistent and harmonious whole.

I would readily recommend this book to any person who desires a better understanding of Scripture whether they have been a Christian for a week or for many decades.

Elders for the Church

Phil Newton writes, "Over the past decade I've engaged a wide-range of Christians on the subject of elders. Some, in desperation, want to change dysfunctional church leadership structures. Others have grown tired of side-stepping the biblical teaching on elders. Some long to adopt elder leadership yet realize many of their congregants would resist change. A mission leader told me that elder plurality was a major issue in his region; nationals, unfamiliar with traditions and arguments against elder plurality, saw it in Scripture and wanted to obey."

He turns to Paul's letter to Titus to find biblical instruction on how a church ought to be governed. "Christ gave elder leadership to the church for its growth, development, and unity. Yet tradition often tugs stronger than biblical order for those refusing elder leadership. Others have elders but neglect applying biblical standards to them. Paul's letter to Titus offers great help for both cases (Titus 1:5-9)."

Keep reading Elders for the Church.

Sproul, Piper & More at the 2011 National Conference

2011 marks the 40th anniversary of Ligonier Ministries and the 25th anniversary of the book, Desiring God. We are excited to join together with Desiring God Ministries for our National Conference in Orlando, March 24-26, on the theme Light & Heat: A Passion for the Holiness of God.

Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul Jr. will join R.C. Sproul to look at several important tenets of the faith, such as divine sovereignty, biblical worship, evangelism and missions, apologetics, and justification.

Register Now and Save $30

The Culture Culture

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The Bible teaches, from Genesis 3 onward, the antithesis. Antithesis is a rather fancy theological term that simply affirms that the people of God live their lives in the context of the battle between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. While we are called to love our enemies, we are called to recognize them as enemies. Though the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, we are at war. We are called to be set apart, distinct, separate from the world around us. One could even translate ekklesia, which is usually translated "church" in our English Bibles this way, "the called-out ones." We seem to have forgotten the antithesis in our day, strategizing that if we will become more like the world we might make a difference, that the way to be salt and light is to mask our savor and cover our light. We are of the light, and they of the dark. We are of our Father in heaven, they children of the Father of lies. We are, by the grace of God, the friends of God. They are, by nature, His enemies.

There is, however, sundry points of contact.  However mangled and distorted, those outside the kingdom still bear the image of God. Conversely, however, there is this point of contact- we are still sinners. Though we have been regenerated we yet struggle with sin. Though we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are still tempted by the spirit of the age. This point of contact, however, the ways in which we sin, is not designed to serve as a bridge to the lost world. It is instead designed to be direction away from itself. That we sin, usually in the same ways that they sin tells us how we can better recognize our sins, that we might flee those sins.

The culture then, serves as a "culture," a way to discern what ails us. If we want to know the kinds of sins we are tempted toward, we ought to be watching the sins of the world around us. Chances are we are tempted in the same direction. This, sadly, is something too many that are wisely conscious of the antithesis miss. We are so intent on the differences between us and them that we fail to see us in them.  They murder their babies, while we avoid ours. They steal from their god by cheating on their taxes. We rob our God by failing to tithe. We rant and we rail against the world's sin x, and miss the fact that sin x comes in camel size at our favorite buffet. Is the world shallow and greedy? I probably am too. Is the world hell-bent on self? I probably am too. Is the world deaf, dumb and blind? I probably am too.

The difference, the antithesis, between us and the world isn't that they have sin issues while we do not. The difference is two-fold. First, our sins have already been covered. Jesus died for them, and the Father is not angry with us. Second, we are committed to finding them out, rather than hiding them. Isn't it gracious of God then to give us the glaring shamelessness of the world to make our own sins more known to us? May He in turn give us eyes to see.

Twitter Highlights (2/20/11)

Here are some highlights from the various Ligonier Twitter feeds over the past week.

Tabletalk Magazine Missions: it's not something "over there," it's wherever you are. http://bit.ly/fXJ3iP



Ligonier To know that God knows everything about me and yet loves me is indeed my ultimate consolation. -R.C. Sproul



Reformation Trust ...while the law shows us our sins and convicts us, it does not contain the remedy for those sins. - Daniel Hyde



Tabletalk Magazine We need theologians who will perceive the biases they bring to the biblical text and test them, as much as possible, by the text (Carson).



Ligonier Academy "Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God." -Martin Luther



Reformation Trust Knowing that Jesus Christ is my Savior delivers me from my anxious fears, and brings me joy and wonderful assurance. -Ferguson



Ligonier Is Calvinism good for the church? @Burk_Parsons explains why Calvin's views are precisely what the church needs. http://bit.ly/gmC2Iv



Ligonier We are not sinners because we sin...we sin because we are sinners. -R.C. Sproul

You can also find our various ministries on Facebook:
Ligonier Ministries | Ligonier Academy | Reformation Trust | Tabletalk Magazine

R.C. Sproul's Starter List for Reading the Bible

In the fall of 2008, Reformation Trust Publishing re-released a revised and expanded version of R.C. Sproul's 5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow. In that book, Dr. Sproul recommends a starter list for people who have never read the Bible. It is quite a helpful list that gives a bird's eye overview of the flow of Scripture.

The Old Testament overview includes:

Genesis (the history of Creation, the fall, and God's covenantal dealings with the patriarchs)
Exodus (the history of Israel's liberation and formation as a nation)
Joshua (the history of the military conquest of the Promised Land)
Judges (Israel's transition from a tribal federation to a monarchy)
1 Samuel (Israel's emerging monarchy under Saul and David)
2 Samuel (David's reign)
1 Kings (Solomon and the divided kingdom)
2 Kings (the fall of Israel)
Ezra (the Israelites' return from exile)
Nehemiah (the restoration of Jerusalem)
Amos and Hosea (examples of minor prophets)
Jeremiah (an example of a major prophet)
Ecclesiastes (Wisdom Literature)
Psalms and Proverbs (Hebrew poetry)

The New Testament overview includes:

The Gospel of Luke (the life of Jesus)
Acts (the early church)
Ephesians (an introduction to the teaching of Paul)
1 Corinthians (life in the church)
1 Peter (an introduction to Peter)
1 Timothy (an introduction to the Pastoral Epistles)
Hebrews (Christology)
Romans (Paul's theology)

If you are new to the Bible, or if you are eager to get an overview of the Bible, you may like to try reading just those books in order. Tolle lege!